By Lorenzo Salinas

l.v.salinas@panews.com

 

Love and family are the hallmarks for the latest member of Mexican pageant royalty.

Angelica Figueroa was named Miss Mexican Heritage Society Queen of 2018 at the 50^th Annual Mexican Heritage Fiesta in Port Arthur.

Angelica is the daughter of Araseli and Gerardo Figueroa. She is a self-proclaimed native of both LaBelle and Port Arthur and is a graduate student at Lamar University.

Figueroa said her family has always placed a strong emphasis and appreciation on their Hispanic heritage.

“Both my parents are Hispanic,” Figueroa said. “My entire upbringing has been based around that. The culture is amazing. Family is a huge thing for me.”

Figueroa graduated from Hamshire-Fannett High School and holds a bachelor of science in nutrition, dietetics and hospitality.

The 21-year-old student is currently enrolled in an internship at Lamar to earn her master’s degree in the same field and to become a registered dietician.

Figueroa said she would even consider working toward a doctorate in the nutrition and dietetics field if the situation were right.

“The whole reason I started this was because I’ve been a type I diabetic since I was 6,” Figueroa said. “So, my goal is to work in a pediatric hospital. My unrealistic goal is to work with the Walt Disney Co. for one of their parks.”

Figueroa’s introduction to the Mexican Heritage Festival started at an early age

“I actually used to do it as a kid. I was a folkloric dancer when I was younger,” Figueroa said. “I competed in the pageant when I was younger, but had to stop doing that in middle school.”

Still, when she decided to enter this year, it was almost due to an inexplicable urge according to her.

“It was just something telling me to do it. It was a good way to get back into the culture.”

Upon being named the 2018 queen, Figueroa indicated she was overwhelmed with emotion.

“I was proud, proud to be chosen to represent my heritage,” she said. “It was an overwhelming feeling, but a good feeling.”

As an ambassador of the greater Port Arthur area’s Mexican culture, Figueroa expressed raising awareness of her heritage as one of her key goals for the year.

“As queen, I would like to spread awareness of the culture. I want to make sure it thrives here in the community,” she said.

Figueroa said that while she felt that some people haven’t embraced the culture or become aware of it as much as others have in the past, she means to change that by bringing a renewed emphasis to it.

“Nowadays, diversity is huge — to be more culturally competent is so important,” Figueroa said. “There are people all around us from different cultures, so it’s good to get culturally competent especially in a place like this.”

According to her, the title and honor represent something special.

“It’s caring. It’s people having such a drive to give their families better opportunities,” Figueroa said. “It’s all about family; it’s all about love. It’s about growing as a family and always having a support group.

“Love comes first.”